The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-12

to develop into great material benent 10
the railroads. Now that the country
has a law to protect the public from the
"grasping monopolies," it looks as II
the people and the railroads would
unite in an appeal for protection from
the legislatures.
The withdrawal of passes has touched
the lawmakers in a tender spot.
We have already noted the fact
that the request eby the railway
companies to return the "annuals'
which had been issued to the members
of the Illinois Legislature was answered
by the introduction of bill limiting
the charge for carrying passengers 70
three cents a mile. The bill was not
passed, the railway companies giving
assurance 60 the lawmakers that an
nuals would be issued good within the
State. The Wisconsin Legislature re-
sented the effort to stop deadheadism
ID a most emphatic manner. The AS
sembly Immediately passed a bill re-
curing all railroads in the State 10
furnish annual passes to every member
o he Legislature, to elective ofhcers
and to all members of courts OF
record. But from Michigan the
most remarkable story cones.
1t is reportsd that "a bill IS before each
house of the Legislature to reduce rail-
road fares to two cents per mile, and II
he railroads call in all passes. as it is
rumored they intend doing, it IS ex
pected that there will be healthy public
sentiment in favor of this measure and
that it will pass" 1t is peculiar pub
lie sentiment, that in Michigan. The
Wolverines are a remarkable people II
they feel hoDored in enjoying the priv
lilege of paying fare at the rate of three
cents a mile, provided the lawmakers
are carried free. We cannot help the
thought that the legislators themselves
have manufactured that queer public
sentiment, as wei as the news item
telling of its EXPIRE ssion.
But seriously, the feeling manifested
by the lawmakers and the course pur-
sued by legislatures, furnish the moss
conclusive proof OF the wisdom OF dis
continuing the pass system. 1t is dem
onstrated now, if never before, that The
pass exercised great influence on legis-
lation. How many years passes have
STAYED off wise and necessary legisla-
ton for the regulation OF the railroad;
and protection of the public, will never
be known. The right thinking people
VIII conclude, after the recent exhibit
tons of peculiar human nature By law
makers, that the law which prevent:
deadheading OF the part of legislators
is wise one. Their business is to make
proper and Just laws, which they are
not likely to do, as is now proven
while carrying in their pockets
bride" as It were, in the shape
} of an annual pass. Besides, member
of the legislature and of Congress ar
paid mileage greatly in excess of tn
actual cost of tickets. The State or tn
government pays their fare, and ha
the right to expect and demand tina
} they will not only hold themselves fire.
from the corrupting influence of brides
: fayors and passes, but that they will no
become tax upon the railroads ant
: indirectly on the public.
It is fortunate for the railways ant
he PUBLIC that very few of the Stat
legislatures will meet before mex
winter. By that time the people ma.
be apprized of the evils of the pas
sys tenn, and public sentiment will intel
l fere to protect the railways against III
highwaymen lawmakers.